HOPEDALE, N.L. - A baby beluga whale that was swimming in the harbour of a remote northern Labrador community likely wandered away from its family and became disoriented before it died, a wildlife official said Thursday.
The whale died Wednesday night after swimming around a dock in Hopedale, N.L., for two days, said James Goudie, a wildlife manager with the Nunatsiavut government.
"I just think this young guy got lost from his mother and just ventured into Hopedale harbour for some reason,'' Goudie said.
"It was by itself as a juvenile, so maybe without its mom it was a bit confused. But it wouldn't leave. It wasn't trapped.''
Whale sightings off the coast of Labrador are common, but it's rare for the large mammals to venture near wharfs.
Goudie said parts of the animal were taken for consumption by residents in the Inuit community of 600, where whale meat is considered a delicacy.
Tissue samples have been collected for contaminant testing as part of a larger study currently being conducted by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
The whale died of natural causes.
